The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-08-17
Only for Fun.

odd years ago, but hold on bit and
I'll help you down." And so saying
aldermanic 81 Dunning reached up a
large, fat hand and eased Miss Patty's
descent from the one-horse shay that
old Doane was Juggling at, evidently
not wishing to tarry, for she seemed
instinctively to conclude that if Miss
Patty stopped there was no telling
when she would resume her journey.
You see-though Miss Patty was
good old soul as ever lived-she was
very much given to harmless gossiping,
and she generally tarried long over the
whine when she began to talk over her
own troubles and trials.
Miss Patty was, as she herself ex-
pressed it, nigh on to sixty, and, in
fact, she admitted the same thing for
a number of years, so that most folks
put it at seventy or thereabouts. Just
now Miss Patty was in peck of
trouble. She had come down from
Roseleaf farm in search of female help.
Mrs. Dunning, the hotel-keeper's
wife, came out to greet the newcomer,
being always glad to see the tidy body,
especially as Miss Patty Slocum's but
ter was the best for miles around and
she always made it point to bring
some along with her.
Just now Uncle 81, as most people
called him, was grunting over the three
gallon jar of buttercup-yellow cream
cry butter.
Mrs. Dunning relieved the butter
maker of her basket of eggs, and she
herself gathered up bunch of garden
sass and brought up the rear as the
trio trudged through the garden and
around to the ample hotel kitchen, Miss
Patty remarking, as they were passing
the side piazza:
"I've got to have some help some
how or other. I've inquired all the
way along, but girls seem to be mighty
scarce. Alters the way these days; when
you want 'em to do bit of work they
are nowhere around. If it wasn't for
the rheumatis now" but right here
Miss Patty's voice was lost as she
turned the corner of the great house.
Though lost to view, she was indelibly
stamped on the memory Of the group
of girls who sat on the front piazza
some in low wicker rockers, one in a
hammock, swinging lazily, another half
sitting on the railing, her saucy face
half-hidden by the luXuriant woodbine
that clambered up to the second story.
81 say, girls, come here, every one
of you," and the face that had been
peeping from the woodbine came into
full view, and the dainty, muslin-clad
body sailed down the steps, and -four
others-not at all alike, but every one
more or less pretty-followed after her
around the west side of the house and
within hearing of all that was said in
the kitchen.
Mum is the word now, girls, don't
you give an audible smile for your life.
l think the party in the immense sun
bonnet-shaker, l suppose you'd call
it's a case; an original one, too; and
l want to hear what she is going to dc
about her help. She makes me think
of old Aunt Hannah, up at the Springs
This old body is just such go-ahead-
sharp as cricket, and, except for hel
rheumatis, would be equal to half &
dozen such girls as you and l."
When the girls had reached the de
sired spot, right under high window
that opened out of the buttery tina
was Mrs. Dunning's pride, and a marve
of convenience, by the by, they all sa
down on long wooden bench that was
under great overhanging lilac-bushes
just now laden with immense clusters
Of the lovely perfumed blossoms.
Rose Stoneleigh, the leader of thu
group, put one dimpled finger up to he
lips, and the others, in g follow-your
leader" style, each raised a finger, ant
they were as quiet as mice. Present.,
through the window came the voice o
Mrs. Dunning:
"Indeed, you must stop minute
Miss Slocum. You'll be all done GU
by the time you get back home again
I" Mol thankee all the same. I'll try
one more place, and then I'll get bacl
home again"
cit is too bad you can't find any
body. What is the particular rush jus
now? Surely haying has not com
menced with your"
mo, not exactly; but I've sigh
on hand just now; got to do some pie
plant, and them ERE gooseberries ar
about ripe enough to can, and in
couple of weeks the cherries will be o.
hand and-pester the hired help any
way. I'd sooner grub along anyhoN
than bother with any of them if 'twan
for this plaguey rheumatis. 1t kinde
ketches me wonst in awhile, and n
use to talk, it takes the spunk clean on
of me. heard they had some sort c
lie down to the post-ofiice that wa
powerful good for SIGH cases, and
guess must get quarters worth, jus
to try it. Feel sort of 'fraid to, too"
4" Girls, sit still, and l will be back i
trice," and off flew Rose, skimmin
past stately Helen Parker, who still s.
on the piazza scratching away with he
pen on an oval stand before her.
What are you up to now, RIOS
Stoneleigh?"
Cant stop to tell any fibs ju
now" said Rose, as she flew up tt
broad stairway and into her room
Presently she emerged an altogetht
different looking person. In the plaC
of muslin she had donned a schoo
girl bingham, white apron and plai
linen collar, her hair all smoothed dow
to get the contrary wrinkles out OF pc
fectly natural, you know. Down 81
went, stole back and seized Mrs. Dun
ning's blue Bingham sun-bonnet, an
darting out to the wondering girls, ha
Just time to signal them to come to I'll
front when Miss Patty emerged fro